🎬New location

Good morning. This is that point in the week when you can almost start to feel the weekend coming. For those who think it’s too long a wait, remember the astronauts trapped in space? Well, they were informed yesterday that their rescue mission would only happen in February 2025. That would mean their original 8-day trip has now turned into a 9-month dance with the stars.

One thing’s for sure, when they’re back, we’ll have two fewer people on Earth who are eager to see the full moon.

— Tayo Davies, Geraldine Ndzomo, Edna Akanni.

AVIATION

Boeing taps Ethiopia for its much-needed African expansion

In a move that will not shock those always looking to save costs by using layover flight options, American aircraft maker, Boeing has decided to locate its African operations in Ethiopia.

The pick comes after several months of deliberation that ultimately saw Ethiopia get the nod over Kenya and South Africa. With operations scheduled to commence in October 2024, both Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines have already formed a strategic partnership in the buildup, as Boeing is set to produce insulation blankets for the Ethiopian carrier. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines is reported to have already been making and supplying Boeing with wire harnesses for its aircrafts.

You really couldn’t see it coming? In the buildup to the move, Boeing, in December 2023, had already selected Henok Shawl, a former executive at Ethiopian Airlines to lead its yet-to-be-established African division. A choice many had interpreted as a sign of things to come.

A bit of respite. The announcement comes on the backdrop of what has been a rather difficult year for Boeing. On January 5th, An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft saw its unused cabin door come off completely in midflight. It forced an emergency landing and a horde of lawsuits which would see Boeing swiftly replace its then-embattled CEO, Dennis Muilenburg (who is famous for saying that Boeing would beat Elon Musk to Mars).

African carriers are excited about this. Around 1,030 crafts are expected to be delivered to African carriers following the start of Boeing’s operations. They are majorly expected to augment the existing fleet capacity of these carriers. GN.

AFRICA

Headline Quickie

• Tunisian court rules in favor of Mekki. Abdellatif Mekki, on Tuesday, was pronounced eligible to participate in the upcoming elections on October 6 after Tunisia’s administrative court upheld his appeal. The electoral commission had earlier excluded him from the presidential race saying there was a lack of popular endorsement for his candidacy. Opposition parties have accused President Saeid of using arbitrary restrictions and intimidation to ensure his re-election to the presidency.

• Zambia’s quarry incident. In Zambia, a devastating accident at a quarry resulted in the deaths of nine workers after a gravel collapse. The tragedy drew attention to the dire need for improved safety regulations in the mining and construction sectors, which are vital to Zambia's economy but often plagued by inadequate oversight. The incident has sparked public outcry and renewed discussions about worker safety, prompting calls for the government to implement stricter enforcement of existing safety standards.

• Nigeria taps Bruno Labbadia for national team job. The seasoned German coach and former football player will be the 3rd man to take charge of the Super Eagles this year. Labbadia takes charge 12 days before Nigeria kicks off their 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic on home soil. He replaces Finidi George who was in charge for four matches earlier this year and resigned following a spat with the Nigerian Football Federation.